Dear Vincentians and Friends:
The Tucson Systemic Change team would like to share, from time to time, information on the work we are involved with, the success stories of the people we serve, and the spirituality that inspire us all. We will be communicating only on relevant information and without a set periodicity.
Why Systemic Change?
End Poverty through Systemic Change is the vision and a critical goal of the Society and of the entire worldwide Vincentian family.
Our choices as individuals and as a society in many ways create and maintain Poverty. If we can change those choices, we can work to end Poverty. To do this, we need first to change our own attitudes and the way we relate to the people we serve. Through mentoring, we empower individuals to make the difficult decisions that give them control of their future. Mentoring helps us to understand the personal, structural and economic obstacles that keep people in poverty. Then, together, we work to remove those obstacles.
Systemic Change also requires an awareness of the system-wide dynamics that affect issues, while the work of personal or social change is taking place. This awareness and the clear understanding of the root-causes of poverty are essential to those seeking to achieve self-sufficiency and independence.
Knowledge of community resources or the lack thereof is also important as it affects people’s ability to acquire the skills, mobility, and education needed to find a living wage job. Systemic Change seeks to build both personal and community resources so that all prosper.
We invite Vincentians and other people of faith, who want to be effective in helping people in poverty restore their dignity, to embrace Systemic Change.
Systemic Change is not synonymous to Social Change or System Change, although these are sometimes the results of our action.
Today, we would like to share with you news about our successful battle to stop the expansion of predatory lending in Arizona, news about the successful completion of our second Getting Ahead program with nine new graduates already moving out of poverty and a number of other items.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
God bless you!

SPIRITUAL REFLECTION
CORPUS CHRISTI

Last Sunday the Church celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi (A liturgical solemnity celebrating Jesus Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist). The following is an excerpt of a reflection on last Sunday scripture readings by Rev. Mark R. Francis, CSV:

To most fully “discern the body” means going beyond the affirmation of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharistic elements. It is to realize that those gathered around the altar, with all of their imperfection and failure, are also a sign of Christ’s presence. The reason we celebrate Mass is not only to acknowledge Christ’s presence in the bread and wine, but to carry that presence-individually and as a community-into the world. As Pope St. Leo the Great succinctly stated in the fifth century: “For the effect of our sharing in the body and blood of Christ is to change us into what we receive.” To believe in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is also to be challenged to see Christ’s presence “in the least of our brethren” and to become ourselves Christ’s loving, healing, and reconciling presence in the world. The presence has a purpose.

Are we seeing Christ’s presence in the “least of our brethren”?

Do we see the presence of Christ in our fellow Vincentians?

Do we see ourselves as being part of the body of Christ and continuing his mission in this world?

Fran Cavallo the District President of the Pasco County, Fl Council would like to share this link to a video that they recorded with the Knights of Columbus in their ares. The Video is a window into the wonderful work that there are accomplishing with the homeless in their are.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNrYJbXzzwU&feature=youtu.be

Pattie Hughes from the District of Manhattan and her Poverty Simulation Team have done it again!
The Manhattan District took the Poverty Simulation Experience to Berlin, New Jersey. They teamed up with the SVDP conference at St. Simon Stock Parish, the local Knights of Columbus and the Peace & Justice Ministry to help their volunteers understand what it is like to live in poverty.
The Camden Catholic Newspaper – Start Herald – Their reporter went to get a few facts for a small article, but stayed to take part in the simulation and learned a great deal. You can read the glowing articles by following the link below.

Ellen,
The FL DOC asked me to coordinate with the Veterans at Santa Rosa Correctional Institution and the Gulf Annex. Do you know of any prison ministers that visit these? I’m applying for a grant to start Getting Ahead while Getting Out at those two institutions. Ray